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BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Sowalong: Sunflowers with Lily Middleton

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

Immediate Media

Home & Garden, Leisure, Nature, Science

4.5650 Ratings

🗓️ 21 June 2022

⏱️ 7 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This time on Sowalong, BBC GardenersWorld.com’s Content Creator Lily Middleton shares why growing sunflowers from seed, on a balcony in West London, brings her so much joy. Injecting brightness into an urban environment, Lily initially started growing long-lasting Helianthus annuus during the first lockdown, letting their cheery, daisy heads peer over the balcony for passers-by to spot on their daily walks.  Easy to start, this season Lily is growing sunflower ‘Red Sun’, making a change from the yellow ray florets she usually leans towards. With limited pots to fill and even less propagation space, Lily explains that while it’s often challenging deciding what to grow, sunflowers always make the cut, providing guaranteed, speedy and beautiful results.  Listen now, for tips on seed sowing, raising seedlings, watering, feeding and how to provide support with bamboo cane stakes as they grow. Lily covers seed saving and leaving the central discs of the flowers heads out, for wildlife to feast on. Plus, why sunflowers are the ultimate plant to encourage children to catch the gardening bug early on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

I'm Kevin Smith from BBC Gardner's World magazine. There's a brand new event this September,

0:05.6

In Conversation at Q Gardens. Join me, Adam Frost and Francis Toppill for expert tips and great chat.

0:13.3

Find out more at inconversationlive.co.uk.

0:18.3

My name's Meren, grower for Ginsters, and I'm looking for an onion masseuse to help me grow the best veg for those delicious pasties.

0:26.2

You must have, about ten years' experience, firm hands, but soft fingers, because we all know a relaxed onion is a tasty onion.

0:35.4

Ginsters taste the effort.

0:38.3

Interviews next Thursday in the onion field.

0:40.4

My name's Meren,

0:41.7

grower for Ginsters,

0:43.0

and I'm looking for an onion masseuse

0:44.7

to help me grow the best veg for those delicious pasties.

0:47.9

You must have,

0:48.9

about 10 years' experience,

0:50.9

firm hands, but soft fingers,

0:53.5

because we all know, a relaxed onion is a tasty onion.

0:57.1

Ginterests taste the effort.

1:00.0

Interviews next Thursday in the onion field.

1:05.2

Welcome to the Gardner's World magazine's Sewalong series,

1:08.6

the podcast that inspires you to grow more from seed.

1:33.3

Hello, I'm Lily. I'm a content creator at BBCGardenersworld.com and I love growing from seed on my balcony in West London.

1:37.3

Although I do have a few pots of perennials that provide interest year after year,

1:41.3

I also love to grow a variety of plants from seed.

...

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